Steven Marcus | Newsday- In terms of a possible return date, “I said from the beginning of June or July." Wheeler recently said. “That’s still the timetable for me. There’s this process; you never know if you’re going to have setbacks. They could be late, could be earlier. You never know. I’m not really trying to set a timetable." According to Sandy Alderson, “Zack is progressing very well. We expect him to be ready sometime midseason. His call demonstrated a strong desire to stay with the Mets. He is loyal to his teammates and believes in the direction of the team. This says a lot about Zack and about the Mets.”

(Chris Soto: Sounds like Zack Wheeler's rehab is progressing as scheduled. Tommy John Surgery is always a crap shoot. You never know just how well a guy is going to bounceback. For every strong Matt Harvey/Jose Fernandez return we see, there is just as many Bobby Parnell's and Josh Johnson's in the league. A healthy Zack Wheeler is better than Bartolo Colon and is WELL beyond what 90% of MLB teams have as their respective #5 SP option.)

Bill Baer | NBC Sports- The defending National League champion Mets are searching for bullpen help, but seem content to wait for free agent demands to diminish. GM Sandy Alderson would prefer to avoid multi-year contracts for relievers. “Does it really improve the team to give a reliever a one-, or two-year contract if we don’t believe he is better than what we have?” Two targets left in free agency include Antonio Bastardo and Tyler Clippard. Bastardo, 30, posted a 2.98 ERA with a 64/26 K/BB ratio in 57 1/3 innings for the Pirates this past season. Clippard, who came over to the Mets from the Athletics ahead of the trade deadline, compiled an aggregate 2.92 ERA with a 64/31 K/BB ratio over 71 innings.

(Chris Soto: I am ok with not spending a multi year deal on a RP. History will show that, outside the premier closers of the game, multi-year deals for mid inning relievers almost NEVER work out well for teams. There is always a significant degree of volatility with relievers year over year. Heck....25% of the league's closers, let alone middle inning guys, on 4/1 end up losing their jobs over the course of the season.)

Sixteen-year-old Cuban outfielder Lazaro Armenteros held a showcase for scouts on January 8th. Approximately 150-200 scouts were in attendance to see the kid known only as "Lazarito." While the Cuban phenom has been compared to a young Willie Mays and Bo Jackson, the early word from the showcase that that he seemed "too muscular & stiff" and "unable to play CF."

The San Franscisco Giants have signed CF Denard Span to a 3 yr/$31M contract pending he is able to pass his physical.

The St. Louis Cardinals are close to a deal with Korean RP Seung-Hwan Oh "The Final Boss."The deal comes on the heels of a report that Oh was going to be suspended for 72 games if he had returned to the Korean Baseball Organization for allegedly gambling at a foreign casino, which is against South Korea’s laws.

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comments:

Seems like it'd be good for Mets to pretend wheeler is a trade deadline acquisition. By then Mets can also determine what else they need, what they have to trade/release to get it. And figure out role of Bart at that time.

I don't necessarily think Wright/Duda is a bad option for our #3/4 going into the season. Also, as I suggested yesterday, I wouldn't be surprised to see Alderson approach the Astros about Carlos Gomez at the deadline if it looks like his hip issue is solved. If Jake Marisnick finally looks like he is reaching his potential, the 'Stros would probably make Gomez (who is a FA after the season) available, and we already know that Sandy likes him.

Although I understand the reluctance to give middle inning RPs multi year deals, since their performance is often volatile year to year, I don't see why we should be wary of giving more than one year to a RP who has demonstrated the ability to consistently maintain a high level of performance. Clippard is one who has done that, and at age 30 he should be good for another 2 years if the price is right. But, of course, the price may not be right. Bastardo has been a bit more erratic, so I am not even sure I would go the extra year.

In any event, the Mets have a pretty good bull pen as it stands right now, and good options waiting in the wings. A few days ago, Sandy said “Does it really improve the team to give a reliever a one or two year contract if we don’t believe he is better than what we have?” That sure sounds like he could elect to stand pat, although it could also just be a ploy to pressure his FA targets.

One last thing regarding the pen. I have to say I am mildly distressed to hear that the Redbirds are close to a deal with Korean closer Seung-hwan Oh. About 2 months ago I emailed Alderson suggesting he strongly consider Oh as an 8th inning option that would be less expensive than his existing FA options. I got no reply. I reminded him that I was the guy that suggested to him, 4 years ago, that he consider both Hisashi Iwakuma and Nori Aoki when they had just entered the U.S. market. At that time he did email me back that he would look into Iwakuma but he was not going to bid on Aoki. I believe now that we missed out on an excellent opportunity to upgrade the pen. Ah well, such is life. (life as a Met fan, that is)